“Help yourself, and heaven will help you” says the popular expression. It is clear that those who do not take risks and passively wait for everything to fall from the sky will not go very far. On the other hand, there are those who arm themselves with good will and determination to achieve their goals, taking life by the horns. This is the case of Flavio Silva, 39 years old, a brave and courageous man who decided to roll up his sleeves to fulfill his greatest wish. Flavio has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. A noble and prestigious profession. But it takes a long journey to get to the bar. And the Brazilian did not have the means to study law. However, there was no question of abandoning his project: he was not the type to twiddle his thumbs, waiting for a miracle to happen. So, he decided to take control by accepting any job. He became a garbage collector: this job, often denigrated by some, was a very valuable help to him in achieving his goals. Discover his inspiring story.
Six years sweeping the street to achieve his biggest dream
Originally from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Flavio Silva wore his garbage collector’s uniform for 6 long years. He worked in the municipality of Tibau do Sul, with great assiduity and rigor, to earn enough money to pay for his law studies. Becoming a future lawyer was a fixed idea that always haunted his thoughts and he was ready to do anything to achieve it. The man explained that he worked in the public service as a street sweeper to support his family, but that the choice of this profession was directly linked to his desire to study.
He lived a real obstacle course
Father of two children, Flavio traveled 78 km per day to get to Natal, the region where the law school is located. He got up every day at 5am to start his shift at 6am. He swept the streets of Tibau do Sul, all the while keeping his main goal in mind. No matter the sacrifices and compromises he had to make, he was so driven by his ambition that nothing could stop him on his way. Nevertheless, his tenacity and inner strength are truly exemplary: after a long six-hour day under the intense rays of the sun, the man had to take a school bus every day to go to college and fight off fatigue between classes, because he only slept three hours a night. Suffice to say, he is truly admirable!
The first challenge came when he had to take the entrance exam for law school. He was very stressed and nervous, but he finally passed. It was his first victory. From then on, he felt that anything was possible! Thanks to his salary, Flavio was able to pay for part of the courses. For the rest, he was able to benefit from his mother’s financial support.
Determined to achieve his goal despite the difficulties
“The first day was very difficult: I attended the first classes and when the break came, I realized that I had not understood anything. I felt desperate. Fortunately, by talking to other classmates, I realized that I was not the only one, they were in the same situation as me. That relieved and reassured me. So I calmed down, but I still wanted to find a strategy to better understand the classes. So, a colleague suggested that I join a study group to deepen my knowledge. I immediately accepted!” says Flavio. He then set himself a new goal: to go to Natal earlier to be able to study with his colleagues in the university library. To do this, he asked his boss to allow him to arrive at work a little earlier and leave before the usual time. The latter accepted his request.
Despite the difficulties and fatigue, the man never lost sight of his goal. While others might have thrown in the towel a long time ago, Flavio never gave up. Better still, the possibility of giving up never crossed his mind: “That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary!” he insisted. Because, of course, it was not only about realizing his biggest dream, but also about offering a better quality of life to his family. A noble and honorable attitude… which would inevitably bear fruit one day!
Giving up on his goal was never an optionAnd, that long-awaited day arrived! Flavio’s perseverance was finally rewarded when he passed his qualifying exam. A great moment of joy for him and for all his loved ones who had never stopped encouraging and motivating him. The new lawyer declared that he had finally achieved his dream. Not without pride, since he passed one of the most difficult exams in the country.